Week 2 of the NIU Baseball Podcast, where Head Coach Ed Mathey and Assistant Media Relations Director Matt Scheerer discuss all things NIU Baseball. This week, Mathey reviews the Huskies trip to Arizona and shares his thoughts on the series with Minnesota.

The NIU Baseball Podcast returns in 2014 for its second season, talking all things NIU baseball with Head Coach Ed Mathey and assistant media relations director Matt Scheerer. Join Ed and Matt as they discuss the upcoming series with Minnesota, preview the 2014 team and some of the happenings in the program.

Pictures from the Huskies series vs Minnesota at Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Ariz. Photos by Vince Schmidt, 108-365

2013: Started 22 of the 33 games he appeared in, playing primarily catcher and designated hitter ... Hit for a .235 clip and tied for the team lead with three home runs ... Collected a pair of hits, one a two-bagger, in the season opener at Texas Tech (Feb. 15) ... Hit a double in the second game of a doubleheader at Southern Illinois (March 9) ... Knocked in his first run of the season on a single versus Kent State (March 24) ... Recorded pairs of hits and runs, a double, and a walk versus UW-Milwaukee (April 3) ... Poked two singles and drove in a run at Illinois State (April 9) ... Found his stride during a four-game hit streak April 30 - May 4 ... Homered in back-to-back games during that stretch, with round-trippers occuring at Bradley (April 30) and at UIC (May 1) ... Slugged his third home run and knocked in two runs versus Eastern Michigan (May 11).

2012: Appeared in 31 games with 18 starts behind the plate, one at designated hitter ... Finished with a .225 batting average, nine runs, six RBI, a double and a homerun ... Picked off seven runners stealing bases and only allowed two passed balls ... Made first start of the season at designated hitter versus No. 18 St. John's, accounted for one run and walk (Feb. 25) ... Had a career day at Austin Peay in a 6-5 win versus Arkansas State, batting 3-for-4 with two RBI and homerun (March 10) ... Finished 1-for-3 at the plate against World Series participant Kent State (March 25) ... Went 2-for-3 in midweek clash at Bradley with a run scored (April 25) ... Combined for three hits, including a double, in six at-bats and two runs in two starts at Eastern Michigan (April 27, 29) ... Was 2-for-3 with two runs in series clincher at the Eagles (April 29) ... Went 1-for-4 at the plate in 3-1 loss versus Central Michigan (May 5) ... Singled and drove in an RBI in the Huskies ninth inning rally at Western Michigan (L, 5-4), which ended on a play at home plate from right field (May 12).

2011: Made four starts at catcher and 11 total appearances ... Hit .286 during freshman season, with four hits in 14 at bats, five runs, two doubles, one RBI and eight walks ... Also recorded an on-base percentage of .560 and a slugging percentage of .460 ... Went 2-for-4 against Valparaiso with one double in NIU's 7-6 victory (May 3) ... Recorded three walks versus UW-Milwaukee in first game of doubleheader, scoring two runs in the Huskies 11-7 victory (May 17) ... Drove in lone run of the season against Chicago State on a sacrifice fly (April 13) ... Recorded another sacrifice hit against the Cougars as well (April 13) ... In the Huskies 12-4 triumph against Buffalo, hit a double and scored a run (April 2).

High School: Named Westchester Suburban Life all-area team Player of the Year as a senior ... Four-time all-area selection ... Named to East Suburban Catholic Conference all-conference team for senior and his sophomore season ... Four-time varsity letterman at St. Joseph H.S. ... Three times named team MVP and captain (Senior, Junior, Sophomore) ... Batted .420 with 40 RBIs, 17 doubles and 3 home runs as a senior ... Scored 21 runs, hit three home runs and had 24 RBI in 36 games as a junior to help the Chargers to a Regional Championship ... Hit .397 with 29 runs and 31 RBI in 38 games as a sophomore ... Hit .397 with 20 runs and 16 RBI in 35 games as a freshman ... Participated in the 2009 Stevenson Showcase all-star event.

Personal: Born November 21, 1991... Business major... Son of Jeff and Donna Battaglia... Aspires to own his own restaurant... Perennial honor roll honoree... Enjoys cooking... Member of Leadership Board, National Honor Society, and is editor in chief of the sports section for his school's yearbook... Admires Alex Rodriguez and Albert Pujols.